GHSA Releases New Region Alignments

Proposed regions released Tuesday by the Georgia High School Association would keep Stephens County in Region 8-AAAA, but that region will look a lot different.

The new regions will take effect starting in the 2016-2017 school year.

Stephens County was placed in a six-team Region 8-AAAA.

Joining Stephens County is Jefferson, North Oconee, Oconee County, St. Pius X, and Madison County.

Madison County was originally set to move up to AAAAA, but dropped back down to AAAA because several AAAA schools chose to play up a classification.

White County and Chestatee would move to Region 7-AAAA under the proposal, to be joined by West Hall, Riverside Military Academy, Blessed Trinity, and Marist.

Looking at other area schools, Habersham Central was placed in Region 8-AAAAAA, to be joined by Apalachee, Dacula, Gainesville, Lanier, and Winder-Barrow.

Finally, Franklin County was placed in Region 8-AAA, to be joined by Hart County, Jackson County, East Jackson, Monroe Area, and Morgan County.

Schools will now have the opportunity to appeal for a lateral transfer to a different region within the same classification.

The new regions will be finalized in January by the GHSA.